Finding A Place To Rest For The Night
Before you continue, if you are not familiar with the terms Boondocking, Wild Camping or being Off -Grid, take a look at the first part of this boondocking post.
If you are looking for a great location along the coastal highway one, this is your spot. While the location you will park your van at is just a gravel lot next to a dog park, the beauty lies a short walk away. First though let me describe the area.
This is a dead end road where you will see a couple of baseball fields, a dog park and a large horse shoe throwing area. Make sure you do not park along the road as seen in the last picture. Although this is where I stayed, I had a note on my window the next morning from a fellow camper. He wrote that the land conservation people do not want us in this area. They, and the sheriffs are fine with people staying overnight in the dog park lot or the baseball field lot.
ok now let’s get into what beauty lies around you.
What Does This Location Offer
As I said, the road is a dead end. That in and of itself is great because you won’t have cars going by all night. At the end of the road is a trail which will lead you to the ocean. It is less than a 10 minute walk to the edge of a cliff that looks down on a beautiful beach. The views along the trail are amazing. Oh but let me mention one thing.
Northern California beaches are notorious for being overcast in the summer. I happened to get one of the amazing fog free summer days when I went. So just be prepared. You will still be treated to a very beautiful walk despite the weather.
To get down onto the beach you need to follow the cliffside trail to the right for 10 to 15 minutes. You will come to a parking lot that leads you down a set of stairs to Poplar Beach. This is not a swimming beach however. The waves and undercurrents are fierce!
If you look to the south you will see a large peninsula with a radar dish on it. That is Pillar Point Harbor. On the tip of the peninsula is where surfers go for the famous Maverics Surf Competition.
If you have bikes with you there is a great oceanside trail that goes for miles in the southern direction. You can also ride or drive into the town of Half Moon Bay where they have fun shops and great places to eat.
On you way out you might want to drive 48 miles south along Highway 1 to visit Santa Cruz. It is a great coastal town know for its surfing and boardwalk amusement park. Have fun exploring.
We also have another review for boondocking in this area. Skeggs Point
My Experience Here
I had a great time here. I arrived at 6pm on a Tuesday and left the next morning at 5:45 am. When I arrived there were Little League players on the baseball field and a few dogs at the dog park. I headed to the end of the road and walked the dirt trail to the main path. I turned right and followed the trail to Poplar Beach and watched the sunset.
By the time I got back to my van there were only two cars in the baseball area and one class B RV in the Dog park area. I turned in for the night and was not bothered all night. The last car I heard go by was at 9:30 pm.
I will definitely be going back in the near future. Next time I will bring my bike.
Remember To Tread Lightly
Whether we are at a campground, BLM land or a spot we just chose to stop for the night, we need to be respectful and leave the area in better condition that we found. The night I stayed here I found napkins, a soda cup and a glass coke bottle on the ground. I got our a trash bag and threw those items away.
The last thing we want is for signs to be posted that there is no overnight camping allowed. We are seeing way too many of those now that van life has become so popular. Let’s help our own future adventures and those of the entire van life community by treading lightly.
If you have stayed here we would love to hear what you thought of it. Leave us a comment below.
* Always check local laws about sleeping overnight in your vehicle. Check for updates on this location on the iOverlander app.
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